Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre was published in 1847 under her pen name, "Currer Bell". It's a classic Victorian novel that follows Jane Eyre's unhappy childhood at Gateshead to her work as a governess at Thornfield Hall. It's here that she falls in love with Edward Rochester, the master of Thornfield Hall.
The characters in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre are used to explore themes such as independence, morality, social class, and love. Our summary and analysis of the novel explores the key and supporting characters, including their influence on Jane and how their actions reflect Victorian society. Plot examples and key quotes to memorise are provided. This Jane Eyre study guide is suitable for GCSE English Literature revision across all major exam boards.
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Jane Eyre
Jane is the protagonist and narrator of the novel, which focuses on her personal growth. She is introduced as an orphan aged 10. She lives at Gateshead Hall with the family of her uncle John Eyre after he dies. The Reeds are cruel to Jane and treat her unfairly, making her feel like an outsider. On one occasion, she is locked in the red room as punishment for defending herself against Jane's cousin, John.
Jane is courageous and repeatedly stands up to Mrs Reed, refusing to accept cruelty in silence. It gives her a strong sense of justice. For example, she confronts the cruelty she received against the Reeds when she leaves:
"I am not deceitful: if I were, I should say I loved you; but I declare I do not love you."
Mrs Reed asks Mr Brocklehurst, the director of the Lowood Institution, for help after their apothecary, Mr Lloyd, suggests that Jane be sent away to school. Jane enrols at the school and is shaped by the harsh conditions and strict authority. She learn discipline and becomes friends with an older girl, Helen Burns. The friendship between Jane and Helen teaches her forgiveness and self-control, as Helen warns that she will be happier if she does not bear grudges.
Jane becomes a governess when the housekeeper at Thornfield Hall, Alice Fairfax, replies to her advertisement. She meets Edward Rochester who she falls in love with. However, she remains true to her principles and independence, such as when she decides not to marry him to stay true to her Christian values after discovering he is already married. Despite Jane and Rochester's clear affection, she leaves Thornfield, showing how much she values self-respect and equality:
"I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself."
The quote below shows Jane's independence. She refuses to be controlled or treated as an inferior. Instead, she makes her own choices:
"I am no bird; and no net ensnares me."
Edward Rochester
Edward Rochester is the master of Thornfield Hall and a very complex character. He meets Jane on a horse as she is carrying a letter. He falls off when the horse slips, and Jane helps him back onto his horse. He initially appears confident, surly, and authoritative. However, he also seems secretive and emotionally troubled. His dramatic personality and unpredictable nature create a Gothic atmosphere:
"You examine me, Miss Eyre… Do you think me handsome?"
Rochester and Jane become close, and he becomes more affectionate after she saves him from a mysterious fire:
"I have for the first time found what I can truly love — I have found you."
Throughout the novel, he tests her character. For example, he pretends to be a fortune teller at a house party to discover her feelings, showing a playful but also manipulative side. He tries to hide his marriage to Bertha Mason, which leads to one of the novel's most shocking moments, leading Jane to leave Thornfield:
"Jane, my little darling!… I will not be left desolate."
Rochester isn't just depicted as selfish. He risks his life to save others when Bertha sets fire to the house. This leaves him injured and blind, representing a form of redemption. It also leads to Rochester becoming more humble and emotionally open when he is reunited with Jane.
The quote below shows Rochester’s vulnerability. He longs to be understood, and his relationship with Jane moves from control and secrecy to mutual respect:
"Do you think I am an automaton? — a machine without feelings?"
Helen Burns
Helen Burns is Jane's friend at Lowood school. She is kind to Jane, whereas until now Jane has mostly experienced mistreatment and dislike. She has a lasting impact on Jane's personality and values. She is calm, thoughtful, and deeply religious. Helen serves as a foil to Jane's more emotional and outgoing nature. She responds differently to injustice, such as seeing it as her duty to receive lashings at school due to her poor stance and dirty nails:
"It is far better to endure patiently a smart which nobody feels but yourself."
Helen is often punished by Miss Scatcherd at school. She rarely complains and believes that forgiveness and patience trump revenge. Jane struggles with this attitude, but Helen's quiet strength affects her thinking, encouraging her to reflect before reacting. They talk about faith, suffering, and kindness, which continue to influence Jane's morality long after she has finished studying and being a teacher at Lowood school:
"Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you."
Helen dies from consumption after a typhus epidemic sweeps the school. Jane refuses to leave her, and she dies in Jane's arms, showing the strength of their friendship and the comfort they bring each other. It highlights the themes of compassion and resilience, as well as the harsh school conditions, which are overhauled and moderated in the aftermath.
Ultimately, Helen is a moral guide who helps Jane become more thoughtful and balanced. The quote below shows her belief in forgiveness and spiritual peace:
"Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity."
Bertha Mason
Bertha Antoinetta Mason is the first wife of Edward Rochester. She is married to Mr Rochester, who claims he was tricked into the union by her father. She quickly begins to descend into congenital madness after the wedding, and Rochester locks her away in Thornfield Hall, hiring Grace Poole to be her nurse.
Bertha is a mysterious character. She spends much of the novel hidden in the attic, and her presence has an important impact on the plot and on Jane's relationships with Rochester. We notice her presence through eerie laughter at the house, the fire in Rochester's bedroom, and when Jane's wedding veil is torn. She greatly contributes to the Gothic atmosphere and feeling of suspense:
"It was a demoniac laugh — low, suppressed, and deep."
Bertha's reveal as Rochester's wife is a turning point in the plot. Jane discovers Rochester's secret, leading her to question her trust. She ultimately decides to leave Thornfield. Bertha's role is to show the consequence of Rochester's past choice and critique romantic idealism.
She is often described in frightening, animalistic terms. This reflects Victorian attitudes to mental health and heightens the mystery of her character. In the quote below, Bertha is shown as both human and symbolic. She can be considered a "double" to Jane, representing suppressed emotions and the danger of passion:
"What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not tell."
St John Rivers
After Jane discovered Rochester's secret marriage and left, she is forced to sleep on the moor after accidentally leaving her belongings on the coach. She collapses on the doorstep of Diana and Mary Rivers. Jane is rescued by their brother, the clergyman St John Rivers.
Diana, Mary and John River offer Jane stability and belonging. However, despite initially appearing kind and reserved, St John shows himself to have a strict focus on discipline and religious duty. He is aloof and emotionally distant:
"He had a reserved, and even cold, expression."
St John values self-control and sacrifice. He encourages Jane to teach at the local village school, recognising her intelligence and independence. He eventually proposes to Jane, which is based on practicality rather than love. He wants Jane to join him as a missionary in India, as he thinks she would be a good partner for his religious mission:
"A missionary’s wife you must — shall be. You shall be mine: I claim you — not for my pleasure, but for my Sovereign’s service."
The quote below shows that St John sees Jane as a helper in his work rather than a romantic partner equal to him. Jane refuses his proposal as she recognises a loveless marriage would go against her true self:
"God and nature intended you for a missionary’s wife."
Ultimately, St John Rivers acts as a contrast to Rochester. St John devotes his life to duty, while Rochester learns to balance love with humility.
Supporting Characters
Mrs Reed and John Reed
Mrs Reed is Jane's aunt. She is an early authority figure in the novel and treats Jane as a burden. There is no familial affection, isolating Jane during her time in Gateshead. John Reed adopts this cruelty as her son. He bullies Jane throughout her childhood, highlighting her lower status in the household.
Jane develops resolve and a refusal to accept mistreatment from the Reed family. In the quote below, Jane confronts her aunt's behaviour before leaving Gateshead. This coldness towards Jane continues to shape her personality, as she is determined to build a life based on respect:
"I am glad you are no relation of mine."
Mr Brocklehurst and Miss Temple
Mr Brocklehurst is the clergyman, director, and treasurer of Lowood school. He is harsh in his discipline and hypocritical, insisting the girls live modestly, while allowing his family to live in luxury. He publicly humiliates Jane by calling her a liar, showing how power can be misused.
Miss Maria Temple is the superintendent of the school. She is kind and stable, listening to Jane's protests and helping to restore her reputation after Mr Brocklehurst's accusations. She is an example of leadership based on fairness, encouraging Jane to value education and self-respect. The quote below reflects her calm, nurturing guidance:
"You must be a good girl, and sit still."
Diana and Mary Rivers
Diana and Mary Rivers become close friends with Jane when she is rescued on their doorstep. Their bond is based on shared interests and respect. They openly welcome Jane to their home, making her feel valued as an intelligent, independent person.
Her time with the Rivers gives Jane pause to reflect. They discuss reading, learning, and personal ambition in a peaceful environment, in sharp contrast to the secrecy of Thornfield Hall:
"They were both fair and tall, and had a certain nobility of presence."
Adele Varens
Adele is a young French girl whom Jane teaches at Thornfield. Jane learns that Rochester took Adele into his care when her mother, a famous dancer, abandoned her. It's not clear if Rochester is her father.
Jane has to balance discipline with empathy as Adele's governess. She guides Adele's lively personality and encourages her creativity. Adele also reflects Jane's social position: educated to teach, but not part of the upper class.
Rochester describes Adele as "a dependent, like yourself". This reminds Jane of her uncertain social status, reinforcing class differences at the time. Jane learns to become more confident in her abilities as she builds her relationship with Adele, helping to shape Adele's future.
Conclusion - Jane Eyre character list
The diverse range of characters in Jane Eyre is one of the reasons for its enduring popularity. Each character reflects different attitudes towards love, morality, and personal choice: from Rochester's emotional complexity and Jane’s independence, to the contrasting values of St John Rivers and Helen Burns. The supporting characters help to shape Jane's growth and reflect the social expectations of Victorian society, including Eliza Reed, Miss Temple and Adele.
For further reading, you can read the biography of Charlotte Brontë and her sisters by the Brontë Parsonage Museum. The Britannica has a thorough article that explores the Victorian era, including attitudes towards gender and religion.
If you need support studying Jane Eyre, TeachTutti has experienced GCSE English Literature tutors who can give bespoke guidance with revision, such as essay writing or quotes to memorise.
